BRUSSELS/MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet in the Swiss city of Basel on Thursday, officials said Wednesday.
"Secretary Kerry will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov tomorrow in Basel to discuss a range of topics of mutual interest including issues related to the Middle East," a senior U.S. State Department official said.
A Russian diplomatic source confirmed the meeting was planned. Lavrov will be in Basel for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday and Friday.
Ties between Moscow and Washington are at their lowest ebb since the Cold War because of the crisis in east Ukraine, with other issues of contention including the conflict in Syria as well as trade and human rights issues.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
